Rotating combustion apparatus



Filed April 12, 1943 4- Sheefcs-Sheet 2 III/III IIIIIII July 29, 1947.

. mum

R. H. GODDARD V ROTATING COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed April 12 194a mum; mum

4 Sheets-Sheet s" 31mm: W

fizz/enter 6a Robertiibauard y 1947. I R. H. GODDARD 2,424,610

ROTATING COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed April '12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 29, 1947 2,424,610 ROTATING COMBUSTION APPARATUS Robert H. Goddard, Roswell, N. Men, assignor of one-half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 12, 1943, Serial No. 482,720

23 Claims.

invention relates to combustion apparatus in which the combustion chamber rotates rapidly while in operation, and in which power is generated. by the reaction of the combustion gases as they are discharged from the combustion chamber. The apparatus may be used to develop power directly by a turbine elfect and without change of locus of the apparatus, or it may be used to develop an axial thrust and a bodily translation of the apparatus by discharge of the combustion gases in one direction only and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

Important features of the invention relate to the provision of novel centrifugal means to deliver the various required liquids to the combustion chamber, and to the provision of a novel valve structure to control the flow of said liquids and novel actuating mechanism for said valves. I have also provided effective control means for the combustion; apparatus, which is responsive both to changes in speed of rotation and to changes in temperature of ignition.

I also provide means to insure safety from explosion under all conditions and whether the apparatus in operation or at rest. Other important features of the invention relate to improved devices for cooling the combustion chamber walls during the operation of the apparatus and for rinsing the centrifugal chambers through which a. liquid fuel and a liquid oxidizing are supplied to the combustion chamber, said rinsing occurring either before or just after operation of the apparatus.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the apparatus is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. l is: a, sectional front elevation of my improved combustion apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 1, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a centrifugal vane to be described;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a. detail view of a portion of a combustion chamber casing. looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 a sectional view, taken along the line 6 -8 in 5;

Fig. 'l is an enlargedpartial front elevation of a special sleeve valve structure, partly in section;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a sliding valve member;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of a spacing member to be described;

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail sectional side elevations, taken along the lines lll| and l2--l2 in Fig. 7 respectively;

Fig. 13 is a, partial end elevation, looking in direction of the arrow l3 in Fig; 7;

Fig. 14 is a diagram of a valve operating mechanism and a control circuit therefor;

Fig. 15 is a sectional side elevation of the rotating; combustion chamber, taken along the linesli- -li in Fig. 1 but shown on a. reduced scale;

- Fig. 16 is a partial sectional front elevation of a modified sleeve valve construction having special provision for heat insulation;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a centrifugal speed-control device, looking in the direction of the arrow I! in Fig. l;

Fig. 18 is a diagram of an operating device for a series of feed valves and a control circuit therefor;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional planview of a thermostat device also shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the action of the combustion gases in developing power;

Fig. 21 is a similar view but shows a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 20; and

Fig. 22 is an organization view of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, my improved combustion apparatus comprises a rotating combustion chamber C which is preferably of the oblate spheroid section shown in Fig. 1 and which is enclosed by a casing provided with hub portions 3| and 32 which are rotatably mounted in anti-friction thrust bearings 33 and 34. These thrust bearings not only rotatably support the combustion chamber, but also resist any axial expansion of the chamber due to internal pressure.

A plurality of annular partition members are fixed within the combustion chamber casing 30 and coact with the combustion chamber walls and with each other to define a series of centrifugal compartments ll, 42, 43, M and 45.

In the usual operation of the apparatus. the compartments ll and are supplied with water to cool the inner surfaces of the casing 30. The compartments 4! and H are supplied with gaso- 3 line or other liquid fuel, and the middle compartment 43 is supplied with liquid oxygen. As

the apparatus is rapidly rotated, these various liquids are forced outward through a plurality of holes near the periphery of each partition member.

The holes 41 venting the compartments 4| and 45 are closely adjacent the inner side walls of the casing 30 and provide films of water spreading outward and thus protecting the casing walls from excessive heat. Similar openings 48 in the inwardly facing walls of the centrifugal compartments 42 and 44 direct sprays of gasoline toward the center of the combustion chamber C, and openings 49 in the walls of the middle compartment 43 direct sprays of liquid oxygen outward in the combustion chamber and in directions designed to intersect the gasoline sprays from the openings 48, so that the liquids will be thoroughly intermingled.

It is desirable that the sprays should be relatively widened circumferentially of the compartments 4| to 45, and I have found that this Widening effect may be cheaply and. easily attained as indicated in Figs. and 6. The widening effect is produced by first forming the holes 41, 48 and 49 in the annular partition members 40, then notching the holes radially on the inner side as indicated at 52 in Figs. 5 and 6 and finally notching the holes circumferentially at the outer side as indicated at 54 in Figs. 5 and 6. These notches may be conveniently produced by the use of a suitable punch or chisel on the inner and outer faces of the partition member 48. This method of manufacture is much quicker and cheaper than the provision of elongated narrow slots around the peripheries of the partition members.

Each compartment 4| to 45 is preferably provided with a series of centrifugal vanes 55 (Figs. 3 and 4) which extend outward more or less radially in each compartment and which are curved near their inner ends as indicated at 56 to pick up liquids with a minimum amount of scattering.

The casing 30 is provided with a series of rearwardly inclined discharge openings 60 (Figs. 1 and through which the combustion gases may pass outward into volute passages 6| and 52 (Figs. 15 and These volute passages are provided at their enlarged and rearward ends with outwardly enlarged side ports or openings 63 and 64, through which openings the combustion gases are delivered more or less axially but in opposite directions, as clearly indicated in Fig. 20.

As the gases escape through the ports or openings 53 and 64, they engage fixed turbine blades 65 (Figs. 1 and 20) and after passing between these blades and being reversed in direction, they engage additional turbine blades 68 mounted to rotate with the combustion chamber. The fixed blades 56 may be non-rotatably supported on any convenient fixed structure, such as the frame 68 on the fixed support 66 (Fig. 1). Each set of turbine blades 66 or 68 is closed at top and bottom by the usual shroud rings '68 (Fig. 20), but is open at both sides. An outer cylindrical casing 69 encloses the volutes 6| and 52 and streamlines the rotating combustion apparatus.

For power development, the opposed discharge arrangement of Fig. 20 is used. For axially translative movement of the combustion apparatus, the volutes may both discharge in the 4 same direction and the movable blades 68 may be omitted, The fixed blades in this case would have straight axial discharge portions, as shown at 68 in Fig. 21.

As the water spray from the openings 41 is rapidly dissipated as it flows outward, I make special provision for cooling the peripheral portion of the casing 30 which is highly heated and also subject to strong centrifugal stresses. For this purpose, I mount an annular jacket member I8 (Fig. 1) at each side of the outer P rtion of the casing 30 and direct jets of water into the jacket space through fixed nozzles H. The injected water moves outward under centrifugal force within the jacket space and escapes through cross passages 12 which communicate with the extreme outer portion of the combustion chamber C at points closely adjacent to the discharge openings 60.

The space between the casing 38 and the jacket casing 10 is preferably packed with metallic fragments, such as aluminum or copper tumings, which have a strong heat-conductive action. Otherwise, steam would form adjacent the outer wall of the casing 30, and the cooling water would be kept away from the wall by the steam and by centrifugal force.

The resilient nature of the metal turnings causes them to maintain good thermal contact with the casing 30 in spite of the natural outward thrust of centrifugal force. The jacket casings l0 and all associated parts except the nozzle II are permanently mounted on the easing 30 and rotate therewith.-

I will now describe the special sleeve valve construction by which liquids are fed to the various centrifugal compartments. The construction of the outer sleeve valve is clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and comprises a non-rotating annular valve member 80 havin an outer casing wall 8| and an inner wall 82, which outer and inner walls are joined at one end by a frustro-conical end portion 83. Circumferential narrow slots or ports 84 (Figs. 1 and 7) are formed in the conical end portion 83 and deliver circumferentially extended fiat sprays of water adjacent the part 85- (Fig. 2) where the inner ends of two of the partition members 40 are joined. At this point, the annular surfaces of the part 85 are circumferentially grooved as indicated in Fig. 2 to smoothly receive and divert the sprays of water delivered through the ports 84.

The flow of water through these ports 84 is controlled by a hollow cylindrical sleeve valve member (Fig. 8) having a frusto-conical end portion 9| and a port-closing band or conical seat portion 92. At its opposite end, the sleeve valve 9|] is provided with a plurality of elongated ports 94 associated with similar ports 95 in the fixed outer casing wall 8| (Fig. 11).

A double volute casing 91 (Fig. 11) is mounted outside of the fixed casing wall 8| and is supplied with water under pressure through a feed pipe 98. A spiral artition member or bafile plate 99 (Figs. '7 and 10) is mounted on the fixed inner casing wall 82 and causes the water to approach the ports 84 with a less pronounced current.

When the sleeve valve member 90 is moved to the left as shown in Fig. '7, the ports 84 are opened and water is allowed to flow through the ports to the centrifugal compartment 4|, where .the water is engaged by the centrifugal vanes 55 (Fig. 3) and is caused to rotate rapidly, thus developing a strong centrifugal force by which it is ejected through the passages 41 to the combustion chamber C. When the sleeve valve member 90 is moved to the right, the conical valve seat 92 closes all of the ports ll.

A three-way valve V'(Fig. 18) is provided in the feed pipe 98 (Fig. 11) closely adjacent the distributing double volute casing 91. The valve V has a vent pipe I and, when in the position shown in Fig. 18, the valve V vents the delivery end of the ipe-00 and the valve structure associated therewith. When turned clockwise 45, the valve V closes the vent pipe I00 and opens the feed pipe 60 for deliverysof water to the distributing volute casing 01.

I have also provided means for automatically withdrawing the valve sleeve 90 as soon as the three-way valve V is opened to admit water under pressure to the sleeve valve. For this purpose, I provide cylindrical compartments I02 (Figs. 7, 12 and 13) permanently mounted at the left-hand end of the outer valve casing wall 8|, as viewed in Fig. l, and closed at their open or free ends by an annular end plate I03.

The outer casing wall III is slotted as indicated at I05 (Fig. 12) to provide free communication between the cylindrical compartments I02 and -the annular space I06 enclosed by the valve casing walls BI and 02. 0

Each bellows member I I0 is secured at its outer end to the end plate I03 and is provided at its inner end with a washer plate III connected by a screw II2 to an arm II3, which arm in turn is secured to a lug I (Fig. 9) which is formed at the open endof the sleeve valve member 90'. A compression spring I I6 within the bellows member IIO keeps the bellows membei'iibrmally open and the sleeve valve member 90 is thereby moved to the right to close the ports 04. The interior of each bellows member I I0 is vented as indicated at I", and a stop screw II8 may be adjusted to limit the travel of the plate III and of the sleeve valve member 90. d

When water under pressure is admitted to the annular space I06 within the sleeve valve 60.

pressure is thereby applied to the outer surface of the bellows member III and the plate III, compressing the bellows member against the resist-' ance of the spring H6 and opening the circumferential ports 04. When the pressure in the annular valve space I06 is relieved, the spring I I6 promptly movesthe valve member 90 to the right and closes the ports Ill.

In .the assembled apparatus, a plurality of such sleeve valves are provided for the various liquids used in the operation of the apparatus, and these valves are nested concentrically and preferably in a left-hand and a right-hand series.

The sleeve valve 80 above described supplies water through ports 04. to the centrifugal compartment ll. A similar sleeve valve 80 in the right-hand valve series supplies water through ports 64 to the right-hand centrifugal compartment 45. A sleeve valve I supplies gasoline or other liquid fuel through ports I2I to the centrifugal compartment 42, and a similar sleeve valve I22 supplies liquid fuel through ports I23 to the compartment 40. A sleeve valve I26 applies a neutral liquid such as carbon tetrachloride through ports I26 for the purpose of flushing or rinsing the gasoline compartment 42. A corresponding sleeve valve l2'l supplies a similar neutral liquid through ports I26 for the gasoline compartment 44. A sleeve valve I30 supplies liquid oxygen to ports I3I to the middle centrifugal compartment 43, and a sleeve valve I32 supplies liquid nitrogen or a similar non-active liquid to bers.

ports I32 for the purpose of rinsing the compartment l3.

Nested sleeve valves as described are. essential in order to provide sufllciently large flows of the several liquids into the various centrifugal compartments without requiring unduly large diameters for the chamber hubs 3i and 32. Each of these valves may be of the construction shown in Figs. '7 to 13, with necessary variations in,

length and diameter to permit nesting and to permit the provision of bellows-operating members for the different slidable valve-closing memwith gasoline or oxygen vapors which easily form explosive mixtures if not effectively rinsed orcleared from the compartments.

As effective operation of the apparatus depends on centrifugal force, it is necessary to provide auxiliary means for starting the combustion apparatus in rotation nd for bringing said apparatus up to operative speed. For this purpose, I provide a motor M (Fig. 1) connected through a magnetic clutch I40 and gear III to a ring gear I42 on the combustion chamber hub 32. When the apparatus has reached the desired speed of rotation, the circuit of the magnetic clutch I00 may be opened to deenergize the clutch, and this circuit-opening may be controlled either man ually or automatically.

In starting the apparatus, it is also necessaryto-make use of an external igniter I (Fig-1) which in itself forms no part of my present infvention and which may be of the general construction shown in my prior Patent No. 2,090,039,

issued August 17, 1937. For present purposes. it is sumcieht. to state that the igniter comprises an oxygen supply pipe I6I, gasoline supply pipe I52, needle valves I63 and I54 for said supply livery pipe I55 having an e pipes, and a mixing chamber connected to a de r ed inner end I56.

The combustion chamber ,is provided with two or more inwardly opening ports I66 (Fig. 1) each having a valve member I6I mounted on'an arm I62 pivoted at I63 on a bracket secured to the casing 00. A leaf spring I normally holds each valve member I6l in the inner or open position shown in Fig. 1 when the apparatus is at rest. With the ports I60 thus open, the flame from the fixed igniter I60 will be intermittently projected through the ports I60 as the combus' tion chamber C starts to rotate and will thus be available to ignite any combustible mixture as it is developed in the combustion chamber,

It is desirable that the igniter be in effective operation and that the combustion chamber reach a minimum speed of rotation before the gasoline, oxygen and water are introduced to the centrifugal compartments ll to 05. For this reason, I connect a series of three-way valves V, I65, I66, I61 and I60 (Fig. 18) byarms I10 to an actuating rod III adapted to be moved in one direction to close the valves by a spring I12 and in the opposite direction to open the valve by a solenoid I13. The valves V and I68 control the water supply through the pipes 98 and I68 (Figs. 18 and '7) to the compartments M and 45, the valves I65 and I6! similarly control the gasoline supply to the compartments 42 and 44 through the pipes I65 and I61, and the valve I56 controls the oxygen supply to the compartment 43 through the pipe 220.

The control circuit for the solenoid I13 is shown in Fig, 18 as comprising a battery B, a hand switch S, a thermostatic device T and a speed controlled switch S.

The thermostat device T (Figs. 18 and 19) is mounted in the enlarged end I56 (Fig. 1) of the delivery pipe I55 of the igniter I50, and comprises a bi-metallic thermal member I80 (Fig. 19) mounted on a fixed support I8I having an opening I82 through which the ignition gases are delivered adjacent the ports I60 (Fig. 1).

A wire I83 (Fig. 18) connects one terminal of the battery B to an insulated stud I84 (Fig. 19) in the igniter casing extension I56, and a second wire I86 is connected to the thermal member I80. As the heat increases and the thermal member I80 expands, contact is eventually established between the member I80 and the stud I84, thus closing the circuit so far as the heat-controlled thermostatic device T is concerned.

The speed control for the switch S (Fig. 18) is shown in Figs. 1 and 17 and comprises a member I90 fixed to rotate with the combustion chamber hub 32 and having an annular recess I9I in which a pair of arms I92 are pivotally mounted for outward movement under centrifugal force and against the action of springs I94. Each arm I92 carries an insulated contact strip I95 adapted to connect the two contacts of the switch S when a certain minimum speed is attained. Two opposite arms I92 are provided to balance the rotating structure, and two switches S may be connected in parallel or one arm may be left inoperative. The wires I96 and I91 (Fig. 17) from the contacts of the switch S may be connected to collector rings I98 and I 99 (Fig. 1), with which rings contact may be maintained from central circuit wires I96 and I9'I (Figs. 1 and 18) by the usual brushes.

Assuming that the manually-operated switch S has been closed, that the igniter I50 has been put in operation and that the motor M has been energized to start the combustion chamber in rotation, the circuit for the valve-operating solenoid I13 will be completed when the temperature is high enough to close the thermostatic device T and when the speed is high enough to close the speed-control switch S. When this occurs, the solenoid H3 is energized, the various valves which control the supply of water, gasoline and oxygen are opened, and the apparatus thereafter functions to produce power.

As the rotating apparatus reaches its full operating speed, centrifugal force acting on the valve members I6I will cause them to swing outward and close the ignition ports I60. It is obviously unnecessary to operate the igniter I50 after the ignition ports I60 have been closed, and the operation of the igniter is accordingly discontinued, either manually or automatically, when this condition prevails.

It is then necessary to prevent breaking of the circuit controlling the solenoid I'I3 when the thermostatic device T cools off and the thermal member I80 contracts. Accordingly, I provide the lily-pass construction shown in the upper part of Fig. 18. In this construction, the wire I86 connects the thermal member I to a lower terminal 20I with which a magnet armature 202 normally contacts. Such contact completes a circuit through a holding magnet 203.

As soon as the circuit is closed through the thermostatic device T and the speed-control switch S, the magnet 203 is energized, thus raising the armature 202 to engage an upper terminal 204' connected by a wire 205 to the wire I83 previously described. With the armature 202 thus raised, the circuit for the solenoid I13 is thereafter maintained through the shunt wire 205, and further maintenance of the circuit through the thermostatic member T is unnecessary, as thereafter the open or closed condition of this original circuit becomes immaterial,

Certain of the sleeve valves previously described are used to supply very cold liquids, such as liquid oxygen or liquid nitrogen, and these valves will gradually accumulate frost and ice and finally freeze, if special provision is not made to prevent this. For handling these very cold liquids, I accordingly provide the modified sleeve valve construction shown in Fig. 16, in which the nitrogen sleeve valve I32 is shown as provided with ports I33 and with a sliding valve member I32.

To prevent freezing, I provide a layer 2I0 of heat-insulating material enclosing the sleeve valve I32 and having openings aligned with the ports I33. Outside of this insulating covering 2| 0, I provide an outer double tubular casing 2 having ports 2I2, also aligned with the ports I33. Asliding valve member 2I3 is provided for the outer casing 2 I I, and this valve member operates the same as the regular sliding valve member I32 and simultaneously therewith. It is important to notice, however, that while the valve member I32 entirely closes the ports I33, the valve member 2I3 almost but not quite closes the ports 2I2, thus leaving slight port openings for a purpose to be described.

An annular space 2I4 is provided between the insulating covering 2I0 and the sliding valve member 2 I3, and a relatively warm and inert gas, such as nitrogen gas, is introduced into the space 2 I4 when the flow of cold liquid nitrogen through the ports I33 is interrupted.

The slight openings left at the ports 2I2 permit a slow seepage of gas through the space 2I4 when the valve member 2I3 is in substantially closed position, and this seepage prevents the accumulation of frost and ice and the freezing of the liquid nitrogen valve which would otherwise take place. A similarly constructed valve is also provided for the liquid oxygen.

It is desirable to shut off the supply of relatively warm gas when the tubular valve is opened to permit flow of the cold liquid to the associated centrifugal compartment, and this is particularly important in the valve controlling liquid oxygen, which oxygen would otherwise be diluted by the inert nitrogen gas.

In Fig. 14 I have shown valve-control mechanism which insures that the inert gas in the jacket space 2I4 will be shut oil when the cold liquid is being delivered through the sleeve valve and will be admitted when the flow of cold liquid is interrupted. The three-way valve I66 for liquid oxygen is indicated as being installed in an oxygen supply pipe 220 and as being provided with a vent 22I to the atmosphere, these parts being also shown in Fig. 18. An arm 222 on the three-way valve I66 will be moved to engage contacts 223 when the valve I is opened to admit liquid oxygen. The contacts 222 are in a circuit which also includes a battery B and a solenoid 224. When the contacts are connected by the arm 222, the solenoid is energized and the valve 225 is shifted from open to closed position. This valve 225 controls the flow of nitrogen gas through the pipe 226 by which gas is delivered to the jacket space 2" (Fig. 15).

With this construction, opening of the valve I66 closes the valve 225, and venting of the valve I66 opens the valve 225. Consequently, nitrogen gas is admitted to the jacket space when the flow of oxygen is interrupted but is excluded from the jacket space when the delivery ports for the liquid oxygen are open.

Having described the details of construction of my improved combustion apparatus, the method of operation will be easily understood.

Prior to starting the apparatus, the centrifugal compartments for gasoline and oxygen are preferably rinsed by introducing small quantities of neutral or inert liquids, such as liquid nitrogen for the oxygen compartment and carbon tetrachloride or some similar neutral liquid for the gasoline compartments. It is not desirable to use a very cold liquid such as liquid nitrogen in the gasoline compartments, as any residue of gasoline would be promptly frozen. The introduction of the inert liquids for rinsing purposes may be either manually or automatically controlled by valves 23! (Fig. 22) and such control forms no part of my present invention.

After rinsing the gasoline and oxygen compartments to remove any explosive mixtures therefrom, the apparatus may be started by closing the switch S (Fig. 18) and also energizing the motor M (Fig. 1), at the same time placing the igniter I 50 in operation.

When the combustion chamber has been brought up to the predetermined minimimi speed of rotation, the switch S (Fig.18) will be automatically closed, and when the temperature in the igniter lill has been raised to a predetermined and operative point, the thermostatic device T W111 close, thus completing the circuit of the solenoid I13 and causing the solenoid to open the valves shown in Fig. 18. These valves control the feed of cooling water, gasoline and liquid oxygen to the various centrifugal compartments.

As soon as a combustible mixture of oxygen and gasoline has been produced in the combustion chamber, this mixture will be ignited by the flame from the igniter l! through the open ports "I, which ports will thereafter close automatically as the speed of rotation is further increased.

Additional cooling liquid may be introduced under either manual or automatic control through the nozzles I i. This cooling liquid, on leaving the jackets II, is delivered to the combustion chamher at its peripheml and hottest portion and adjacent the discharge openings I. Portions of the cooling liquid will be drawn into the discharge openings, thus. preventing burning of the walls of the openings and reducing the temperature of the gases in the volutes ii and ii.

The apparatus will continue in operation until the sleeve valvcs are operated to shut oil? the supply of liquids to the centrifugal compartments and thence to the combustion chamber. The gasoline and oxygen compartments are then pref. erably rinsed a second time as previously described. Whenever the cold liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen are shut of, introduction of relatively warm nitrogen gas will be automatically 1. In a, rotatable combustion apparatus, s. ro-

tated combustion chamber of substantially elliptical axial section and having a peripheral oombustion space, an axial series of inner centrifugal liquid-feeding compartments all mounted within said combustion chamber and rotated therewith and comprising complete and partial hollow discs of flattened elliptical axial section, each compartment having an unobstructed annular opening to a common central passage which is maintained at atmospheric pressure and each compertinent having a circular series of peripheral ports to said combustion space, and means to direct unconfined'jets of liquid combustible and liquid oxidizing agents transversely of said central atmospheric passage to the inner annular openings of separate selected centrifugal compartments.

2. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber having a peripheral combustion space, a series of inner centrlhigal liquid-feeding compartments, and means to reed liquid combustible and oxidizing agents to ad-.

jacent centrifugal nts, and said Milcent compartments having peripheral ports discharging in intersecting directions and through which said liquids are delivered to said cmnbustion chamber in intersecting sprays.

3. In a rotatable combustion a a 1'0- tated combustion chamber having hollow and I0- tatably mounted hub portions, a plurality of sleeve valves of graduated and each having inner and outer cylindrical walls, whereby said valves may be concentrically nested in said hollow hub portions, said valves combustible and oxidizing liquids to said chamber, and a single means to open and close said nested valves.

4. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber having hollow and rotatably mounted hub portions, a plurality of sleeve valves concentrically nested in said hollow hub portions and supplying and liquids to said chamber, and means to open and close a plurality of said nested valves simultaneously.

5. In a rotatable combustion apparatls, s. rotated combustion chamber having hollow and 10- tatably moimted hub 'portions, a plurality of sleeve valves nested in said hollow hub partials and supplying combustible and oxidizing liquhls to said chamber, said valves having peripheral delivery ports near their closed inner ends, and a single sliding valve member eifecfive to simultaneouslyclosealloftheportsinaselcctedsleeve valve.

6. In a rotatable combustion a 10- tated combustion chamber having hollow and mtatably moimted hub portions, a plurality of sleeve valves nested in said hollow hub portions and supplying combustible and oxidizing liquids to said chamber, said valves having peripheral delivery ports near their closed inner ends, a single sliding valve member effective to simultaneously close all of the ports in a selected sleeve valve, 2. supply valve for each sleeve valve, and coacting means coordinating the movements of said supply valve and said sliding valve and effective to move said sliding valve member to open said delivery ports when the associated supply valve is opened.

7. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber having hollow and rotatably mounted hub portions, a plurality of sleeve valves nested in said hollow hub portions and supplying combustible and oxidizing liquids to said chamber, said valves having peripheral delivery ports near their closed inner ends, a single sliding valve member effective to simultaneously close all of the ports in a selected sleeve valve, asupply valve for each sleeve valve, means to move said sliding valve member to open said delivery ports when the associated supply valve is opened, and said latter means including a control device operated by the liquid pressure in said sleeve valve.

8. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber having hollow and rotatably mounted hub portions, a plurality of sleeve valves nested in said hollow hub portions and supplying combustible and oxidizing liquids to said chamber, said valves having peripheral delivery ports near their closed inner ends, a single sliding valve member effective to simultaneously close all of the ports in a selected sleeve valve, a supply valve for each sleeve valve, means to move said sliding valve member to open said delivery ports when the associated supply valve is opened, and said latter means including a control device comprising a plurality of bellows operators each responsive to an increase in the liquid pressure in said tubular sleeve valve.

9. In a rotated combustion apparatus, a combustion chamber, a plurality of inner centrifugal compartments for said chamber, means to supply very cold liquids to certain of said compartments, tubular sleeve valves controlling the flow of said very cold liquids, jackets for said sleeve valves, means to supply a relatively Warm inert gas to each jacket space, and coacting automatic means effective to admit said gas to a selected jacket space and to simultaneously interrupt the flow of cold liquid to the associated centrifugal compartment, whereby'dilution of the cold liquid for said compartment by said inert gas is avoided.

10. In a rotated combustion apparatus, a tubular sleeve valve having delivery ports adjacent its closed inner end, a jacket casing for said valve having ports aligned with said delivery ports, valve means controlling the admission of a very cold liquid to said tubular valve, valvemeans controlling the admission of a relatively warm inert gas to said jacket space, sliding valve members effective to close the delivery ports and to almost close the jacket ports, and coordinated operating means efiective to open and close said two valve means alternately and simultaneously, whereby dilution of the cold liquid by the inert gas is prevented.

11. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber having a plurality of partitions therein providing a series of centrifugal liquid-spraying compartments, means to supply a very cold liquid to one of said compartments, a tubular sliding valve controlling the delivery of said very cold liquid to said compartment, an insulating covering for said tubular valve, a jacket outside of said insulating covering, means to admit a relatively warm inert gas to said jacket, and devices coordinating said admitting means and said supply means and effective to insure alternate admission of said cold liquid and said inert gas, whereby dilution of the cold liquid by the inert gas is prevented.

12. In a rotated combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, inner centrifugal compartments effective to feed combustible and oxidizing liquids to said chamber, auxiliary means to rotate said chamber, and speed-responsive means to prevent admission of said liquids to said compartments until said chamber is rotating at a predetermined minimum speed.

13. In a rotated combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, inner centrifugal compartments effective to feed combustible and oxidizing liquids to said chamber, an igniter for the combustion chamber, and thermostatic means to prevent admission of said liquids to said compartments until said igniter develops a predetermined ignition temperature.

14. In a rotated combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, inner centrifugal compartments effective to feed combustible and oxidizing liquids to said chamber, an igniter for the combustion chamber, thermostatic means to prevent admission of said liquids to said compartments until said igniter develops a predetermined ignition temperature, and means to bypass said igniter as said liquids are thus admitted.

15. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, a plurality of inner centrifugal compartments through which combustible and oxidizing liquids are fed to said chamber, and valve means efiective to selectively control the admission of inert fluids to rinse said centrifugal compartments.

16. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, and a plurality of inner centrifugal compartments through which combustible and very cold oxidizing liquids are fed to said chamber, and the walls of said compartments being spaced apart to prevent heat transfer between said compartments and freezing of the combustible liquid.

1'7. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, centrifugal means to inject a cooling liquid to form a film adjacent the inner portions of the walls of said combustion chamber, a jacket for the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber and rotatable therewith, and means to supply a cooling liquid to said jacket.

18. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, centrifugal means to inject a cooling liquid to form a film adjacent the inner portions of the walls of said combustion chamber, a jacket for the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber and rotatable therewith, means to supply a cooling liquid to said jacket, and ports connecting the outer part of the jacket space to the peripheral combustion space of said rotated chamber.

19. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, centrifugal means to inject a cooling liquid to form a film adjacent the inner portions of the walls of said combustion chamber, a jacket for the peripheral portion of said combustion chamber and rotatable therewith, fixed nozzles to supply a cooling liquid to said jacket, and a filling of metal turnings for said jacket having high heat-conductive quali- 20. In a, rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, a fixed igniter, ports in the wall of said chamber movable in a circular path past said igniter and intermittently admitting the igniter flame to said chamber, and normally open valves for said ports, each valve being pivoted to the outer wall of the combustion chamber at one side of the associated valve port and being unbalanced with respect to said port and being thereby responsive to centrifugal force and movable by centrifugal force to closed position when said chamber is rotated at not less than a predetermined speed.

21. In a rotatable combustion apparatus, a rotated combustion chamber, a fixed igniter, ports in the wall of said chamber movable in a circular path past said igniter and intermittently admitting the igniter flame to said chamber, normally open valves for said ports, each valve being pivoted to the outer wall of the combustion chamber at one side of the associated valve port and being unbalanced with respect to said port and being thereby responsive to centrifugal force and movable by centrifugal force to closed position when said chamber is rotated at not less than a predetermined speed, and means to overcome the centrifugal force and to move said valves to open said ports when said chamber is rotated at less than said predetermined speed.

22. In a rotated combustion apparatus, a tubular sleeve valve having inner and outer walls, a tubular valve member slidable within but adjacent said outer wall, and a partition member mounted on the inner wall of said tubular valve and forming a helical baflle in the space between said inner wall and said sliding tubular valve member.

. ripheries of said compartments, and vanes in said compartments effective to pick up and rotate the liquids fed thereto and to deliver said liquids to said peripheral delivery openings.

ROBERT. H. GODDARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 16,848 McHenry Mar. 17, 1857 42 049 Martin Mar. 22, 1864 368,266 Wright Aug. 16, 1887 1,046,718 Aull Dec. 10, 1912 1,140,514 Haverstick May 25, 1915 1,501,849 Johnson July 15, 1924 1,932,702 Langdon Oct. 31, 1933 1,960,810 Gordon May 29, 1934 1,988,945 Hansen Jan. 22, 1935 2,188,128 Armstrong Jan. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 445,550 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1936 339,847 France Apr. 28, 1904 383,966 France Jan. 23, 1908 Germany May 8, 1929 

